Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-09-28
STRAY SCIENCE.

IT has been observed that snow Is de-
structive to the fine surface of marble stat
uary through its absorption of the sulphur
Gus acid of the atmosphere
IL regard to the strength of snails it Is
said that d snail weighing one-third of an
ounce has been seen to draw up vertically
a load fifty times greater than its own
weight.
A FRENCH Government engineer says
that the destruction of many building stones
is brought about by the abrupt expansion
of the stone, under the action Of the suns
heat when the temperature Of the atmos-
phere is very low and the sky is clear.
BIBLIoLooIsTs have discovered a wonder
full state Of preservation of flowers obtainara
from mummy wrappings of Egypt. The
delicate violet color Of the larkspur and the
scarlet of the poppy have been found dis
tinct in the leaves and the sugar in tho pulE
of raisins is said to have remained.
SCIENTIFIC investigation has developed
the fact that typhoid and scarlet fevors are
communicable through the use Of cows
milk. 1t is well known certainty that va
rious epidcmics have been spread through
the agency Of milk; but tho understanding
now acquired is that cows themselves ara
subject TO forms of these diseases.
ACCORDING to experiments with scorpions,
the oft-repcated story Of their committing
suicide has been set at narght. 1t has been
found a physical impossibility for scorpion
to poison itself or one of its kind. In battles
occurring between them they repeatedly
sting each other, but not with poisonous
effect. The stronger one usually tears the
weaker to pieces. The poison contained in
the scorpions sting is milky fluid with q
pungent odor.
The use OF oily and fatty foods in arctic
regions is explained by the great potential
energy OF fat, pound Of which is equal 70
over two pounds OF protein or starch. II Is
surprising 10 SEQ how commonly and largely
the fattcr kinds OF meat are used by mcu
engaged in very hard labor. Men In train
ing or athletic contests, as oarsmen and
football teams, cat lslgc quantities OF meat.
Both beef and mutton are rich in protein,
which makes muscle. Mutton has tho ad-
vantage Of containing moro fat along with
the protein, and hence moro potential en-
ergy. Perhaps this is another case in which
experience has led TO practice, the real
grounds for which have later been explained
by scientific research.
A FRENCH scientist calls attention to
curious illusion of the vision which. Il is
thought, may account for the apparent os-
cillation or swinging Of stars sometimes OBJ
served, and called by the Germans "stern@
schwanken.'' When tho eye looks for sorao
time at a small, feebly-lightcd body, itself
being In complete darkness, the body ap-
pears TO oscillate or to describe certain
curves. It is said that this Is a phepomepon
Of the subjective order, appearing TO be Of
the same nature as the movement Of q star
observed when a person leans the head
against wall and fixes his eye upon the
star-the star appears TO be agitatcd in its
place, and to oscillate rapidly; in order that
the motion may be noticed, thcrc should bd
no moon, and tho sky should be clear.
A RUSSIAN chemist has been experiment
ing recently on the low boiling points OF the
liquids formed by condcnsing tho so-called
permanent gases. A thermometer In which
hydrogen was substituted for mercury was
used. The boiling points OF all gases ex.
perimcntcd with are extremely low at ordi.
nary atmospheric pressure. Thus marsh
gas boils at l64 degrees c., oxygen gas as
2s1.4 degrees, nitrogen gas at 1874 Z dcgreesl
carbon monoxidc at 100 degrees, and nitric
oxide at 1880 degrees. When those lIqui.
fed gases are further cooled thoy become
solids, melting at still lower temperatures.
Thus ice mclts at exactly I degree c.. hnf
carbon monoxide at 207 degrees C. The
lowest temperature ever recorded as yet is
the melting point Of nitrogen, 25J Joarccf
G. t3f3 degrees r.